Avon Rowing Club
Avon Rowing Club has cemented its reputation as one of the most successful club programs in New Zealand in recent years, especially when it comes to developing athletes aiming for national team pathways. The Avon women’s eight, a dominant force in the South Island, has consistently performed at the highest level, regularly securing podium positions across various events.
At the Canterbury Championships, Avon showcased their speed with a strong first-place finish in the preliminary round of the women’s premier eight. Despite a slower fourth-place finish in the A-final, this result was due to crew unavailability, forcing the team to race in a four, making it an unreliable indicator of their true capabilities. In a bold move at the South Island Club Championships, Avon handicapped themselves with a ten-second delay to make the race “more interesting.” This strategy, however, backfired as they lost the race to Dunstan. Despite this, the experience taught the crew valuable lessons in sprinting and coming from behind insights they plan to apply at this year’s nationals.
Avon’s women’s eight has become a dominant presence, especially in the South Island, and they have shown strength across multiple boat classes, consistently excelling in both fours and pairs. Coached by Tim Hopkins, who brings international coaching experience from the UK, the crew benefits from diverse training methods that have helped elevate their performance. The crew is made up of several regional representatives, including redcoat winner Phoebe Collier, New Zealand Universities representative Jessica Tavendale, and New Zealand U19 representative Alice Ferguson, who strengthens the team’s depth. Like many strong Avon crews of the past, this eight is rich with both international and domestic experience, including several Maadi Cup medallists from their junior days. Overall, this crew is interesting, and it’s hard to say what they could do. They’ve kept their tactics close to the chest, so no one really knows what to expect making it all the more exciting to see how they perform at Nationals.
Dunstan Rowing Club
Dunstan Rowing Club has long been known for its success in sculling, with a history of national championships and athletes who have gone on to represent New Zealand on the world stage and at Ivy League schools. However, the club has recently made a strong push in sweeping, particularly with their senior women’s eight. Over the last couple of regattas, Dunstan has consistently been on the podium, winning two of the previous three regattas in the women’s premier eight and even defeating top schools, including Avon Rowing Club, at the most recent regatta.
This crew is a team that can back itself. With a strong club culture and an experienced coaching staff, there’s a palpable sense of belief within the crew. I would compare them to St George’s Men’s open eight another crew known for its culture and the limitless potential that comes with it.What makes this crew particularly intriguing is its composite nature. While Dunstan has provided the core of the crew, athletes from Cure Rowing Club, such as Madison Neale and Sasha Robinson, have added further depth and talent, creating a dynamic and well-rounded team. Despite being a composite crew, they’re set to race at the NZ Club Champs, and with a mix of national representatives, national title holders, and exceptional coaching, they have the potential to go all the way.
Coached by Simon Smith, a legendary figure at Dunstan who helped build Avon Rowing Club into one of the top programs in the country, this crew is in excellent hands. With experience, talent, and coaching, Dunstan Rowing Club’s women’s premier eight is a team to watch closely at Nationals.
Prediction
Although Dunstan has the culture and the coaching staff to push for a strong finish, I believe Avon will take the win. At the last regatta, Avon had a ten-second handicap and still only lost by two seconds to Dunstan, showing just how tight the competition was. Avon’s consistency and depth will likely give them the edge, but I look forward to seeing Dunstan race at this regatta. Who knows what could happen at the end of the day?
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